Beltline data center project

Data centers in rural America consume vast amounts of water, particularly through evaporative cooling systems, raising environmental concerns. Communities are increasingly opposing these projects due to land-use changes and limited local benefits, while most new facilities are planned for rural areas despite high electricity costs and pollution risks.

Data centers in rural America consume vast amounts of water, with Google's Oklahoma facility using 1.1 billion gallons annually. Environmental and community concerns arise over water use, pollution, and land rezoning, as most new projects are planned in rural areas.